They took the day off from school. They held a homemade banner. And when the elder Jordan finally stepped off the guided-missile cruiser Mobile Bay, the younger Leon leaped into his arms and broke down in tears.

“I’m really happy,” said Leon III, 16, shortly before seeing his father. “It’s 10 times better” having him home.

Monday marked an emotional reunion for hundreds of families at two of the region’s naval bases. At about the same time the Mobile Bay returned to Naval Base San Diego from an eight-month deployment to the Middle East and Pacific areas of responsibility, two helicopter squadrons came home to Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado.

All were part of the John C. Stennis Strike Group, which has been away since September. Aside from the Mobile Bay, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 8 and Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 71, the aircraft carrier John C. Stennis is also making a brief stopover at North Island before it heads back to its home port in Bremerton, Wash.

At Naval Base San Diego, the Mobile Bay’s crew of 351 sailors were greeted by friends and family members, who shouted, cheered, and cried upon seeing their loved ones.

The Mobile Bay spent five months in the Middle East in the North Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and doing maritime security operations and theater security cooperation with allies and partner nations, said Capt. Tim Kott, the ship’s commanding officer.